Annealing box



G. A. HASSEL ANNEALING BOX Dec. 28 ,1926.

Filed June 17, 1925 WITNE SSES Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV A. HASSEL, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB. TO PITTSBURGHSTEEL FOUNDRY CORPORATION, OF GLASSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed June 17, 1926.

The invention relates to boxes :tor sealing sheet or other metal againstthe ingress of oxygen While being heated, and has particularly to ldowith annealing boxes ot' the type which consists of a base having anupturned peripheral iange, and a hood having its lower edge resting uponthe base and torming with the 4flange ot the base a groove for thereception of luting or sealing material.

In the use of these annealing boxes, considerable difficulty has beenencountered by reason of the warpage of the sides oi' the hoods,particularly at their lower edges lVhen this warpage takes place duringan annealing operation, as it frequently does, the edges of the hoodeither move outwardly or inwardly of their normal positions. This breaksthe seal and permits the tlow` of an oxidizing atmosphere into the hood.

'lhe object of this invention is to provide an annealing box of the typeexplained with simple and effective means for preventing lateralmovements of the lower edge of thev hood, the means being such as willnot become impaired by high heat to which such boxes are normallysubjected in service.

Tn accordance with the present invention means are provided for securelylocking the hood to the base oi an annealing box in the region where thewarping or distortion is most pronounced, that is, between the corner orend portions of the box, or at such intermediate portions as may bedesired. To trmly secure the hood and base a block of suitable shape toengage complementary shaped portions of the hase and hood is se-y curedas by a wedge to clamp the hood to the base member. By means oftheclamping blocks the hood becomes firmly seatedv on the base, and thesides of the hood. which are ordinarily free to become distorted, arerestrained against movement.

'lhe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Fig.l is a view partially in side elevation and partially in section of anannealing box; Fig. 2 a cross sectional view thereof taken along theline IL-H, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a top plan view of the portion of theannealing box in which the wedge-block is secured.

Referring to the several :tigures of the drawing, the structure thereinillustrated comprises a base 1 provided with grooved ANNEALING B0X.

Serial No. 116,580.

upon the upper face ot base 1 within the rim or flange portion 4 andwithin the vertically extending lugs 5. The hood is provided with armsor lugs 7 for receiving hooks for hoistingby means of which it is liftedand lowered from and onto base 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, base 1 and hood 6 are provided with mortised grooves8 for receivmg .a dove-tailed block 9 having a central opening l() forreceiving a wedge 11. The dimensions of block 9 are such as to titbetween the projecting lugs 5,'the latter being provided with openingsfor receiving the wedge member 1l in alignment With the central 'opening10 of the block. The wedge 11 is driven through the openings of the lugs5 and the central opening of the clamping block 9, as shown in Fig. l,to drivethe block against the mortised seating grooves 8 of the base andhood to firmly clamp the latter to the former for the purposehereinbefore stated. y i

Although but a single pair of blocks are shown in the drawing disposedmidway between the ends of the annealing box, it is evident that two ormore such clamps may be provided on each side of the annealing box, andalso at the respective ends thereof in accordance with the clampingaction it is desired to obtain. for a given sized annealing box. It isalso evident that various forms of clam ing blocks may be used in placeof those il ustrated, it being characteristic of the blocks and theircooperating elements that they are so formed that their usefulness doeslnot become impaired by being periodically subjected to hightemperatures.

By using the clamping means herein provided, the sides of an annealingbox hood are so held against distortion that the seal at their edgesdoes not become broken during an annealing operation.

Although this invention is herein illustrated in its preferredembodiment it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the details of constrrction and in thearrangement of the several cooperating parts Without departing from theprinciples herein set forth.

I claim:

1. In an annealing box the combination of a base, a hood, and means forsecurely locking said base and hood, said means com rising a pluralityof blocks adapted for loc Iing engagement with said lhase and hood, andWedges extended through said blocks and through openings provided insaid hase.

2. In an annealing box ythe combination of a base having a plurality ofmortised oilset portions, a hood adapted to seat thereon, said hoodhaving mortised portions corresponding to and registering with themortised-portions of l:said base, blocks shaped complementary to themortised portions of said base and hood, and means :tor interlockingsaid blocks, hase and hood.

3l In an annealing box the combination of a base having a plurality ofmortised offset portions, a hood adapted to seat thereon, said hoodhaving mortised portions correspond'- ing to and registering with themorti'sed portions of said base, blocks shaped complementary to themortised portions of said 'base and hood, and Wedges extending 'throughsaid blocks into openings rovided in said base for interlocking sai baseand hood.

4. In an annealing box the combination of a base having spaced-apartvertically extending lugs, a hood adapted to seat on said baseintermediate said lugs, clamping blocks disposed between said lugs andadapted to cooperatively engage said base and hood, and Wedges extendingthrough vopenings in said blocks and the lugs of said base to interlockthe said base and hood. i

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

onsrnv A; ssrn blocks,

